Adjustable waveguide support test stand



March 10, 1964 c, JR" ETAL 3,124,345-

ADJUSTABLE WAVEGUIDE SUPPORT TEST STAND Filed March 16, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS PAUL 6. EL) JR.

ROBERT J M6 UAW BY ATTORNEY March 10, 1964 Filed March 16, 1962 FIG.3.

P. C. ELY, JR" ETAL ADJUSTABLE WAVEGUIDE SUPPORT TEST STAND 2Sheets-Sheet 2 EL-i INVENTORS PA UL C. E L) JR.

ROBE/P7 J. MC CAW BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,124,345 ADJUSTABLEWAVEGUIDE SUPPORT TEST STAND Paul C. Ely, In, and Robert J. Mctlaw,Clearwater, Fla,

assignors to dperry Rand Corporation, Great Neck,

Niirl, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 180,178 6Claims. (Cl. 269-60) The present invention relates to an adjustablesupport test stand for waveguides having broad and narrow walls.

Test stands for waveguides are used primarily to support waveguidesections to form a complete waveguide that has all of its sectionsaccurately aligned with respect to each other. Prior art waveguide teststands require an excessive amount of manual manipulation in order toaccurately align the waveguide sections. Since the laboratory personnelwhich perform these manipulations are relatively high priced, the amountof time involved in making the laboratory waveguide setup involves aconsiderable expenditure of time and consequently money.

Further prior art waveguide test stands generally are adjustable over arelatively limited range of application and if stable, they areunnecessarily bulky. If they are compact, they are usually undesirablyunstable and unduly expensive. In addition, certain of the prior devicesdo not provide positive clamping of the waveguide under test.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide aversatile waveguide test stand that is readily adjustable vertically andhorizontally while being rugged in service andeconomical to manufacture.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide awaveguide test stand that is quickly and easily adjustable with respectto two perpendicular axes that firmly secures the waveguide withoutdamage while being compact and economical to manufacture.

The above objects are accomplished by a test stand for waveguides havingbroad and narrow Walls in which clamping jaws have first and secondportions stepped with respect to each other. The first or secondportions optionally secure the waveguide when the narrow wall is in apredetermined position and the first or second portions optionallysecure the waveguide when the broad wall is in said predeterminedposition. The test stand further includes a dual threaded adjustingwheel for rapid and easy vertical adjustment. The Waveguide test standis compact, rugged and readily adjustable with respect to twoperpendicular axes and requires a minimum of adjustment by the humanoperator.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation partially in section of the waveguide teststand of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right elevation of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a left elevation of MG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the Waveguide test stand lit of the presentinvention includes a stationary base member 11. The base member 11 maybe merely mounted on a test bench or may be secured to the bench bymeans of screws which protrude through holes in the base plate. Anexternally threaded stud 12 having a longitudinal axis 13 projectsupwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 from the base member 11. A dual threadedhollow adjusting wheel 14 has a threaded hollow cylindrical portion 15projecting therefrom having a central bore 16 whose longitudinal axis iscoincident with the axis 113. The bore id is internally threaded tocooperate with the external threads on the stud T2. The projection 15 isexternally threaded to cooperate with an internally threaded aperture 24of a support member 21. The longitudinal axis of the aperture 20 iscoincident with the axis 13 whereby rotating the wheel 14 around theaxis 13 rapidly adjusts the support element 211 in the verticaldirection as viewed in PEG. 1 along the axis 13.

To permit movement of the support element 21 in the vertical directionwhile preventing relative rotation of the support element 21 withrespect to the base 11, a semicircular guide post 22 extends verticallyupward as viewed in FF. 1 from the base 11. The semicircular guide post22 is cooperative with a semicircular aperture 23 within the supportelement 21. To prevent the adjusting wheel 14 from becoming disengagedfrom the stud 12, a stop element 24- in the form of a circular washer isscrewed to the top of the projection 22 by means of a screw 25.

The support element 21 has mounted thereon cooperative clamping jaws 3tand 31. The jaw 39 is integral with the support element 21 while the jaw31 is positionably mounted on a threaded shaft 32. The shaft 32 ismounted for rotation around its longitudinal axis 34 in a circulargroove 33 in the support element 21. The shaft 32 is rotatably supportedby means of its extremities 35 and 36 which project through supportapertures 37 and 38 in the support element 21. An adjusting knob 4G issecured to that portion of the extremity 35 which extends beyond thesupport element 21. A look nut 41 is secured to that portion of theextremity 35 which extends beyond the support element 21 to preventmovement of the shaft 32 in the direction of the axis 34. The axis 34 isperpendicular to the axis 13. The movable jaw 31 has an internallythreaded aperture 42 which cooperates with the external threads of theshaft 32 whereby rotation of the knob so causes the jaw 31 to bepositioned in the direction of the axis 34 to provide the horizontaladjustment as viewed in FIG. 1 of the test stand 10.

The jaw 39 includes first and second face portions 43 and 44-respectively having first and second respective faces 45 and 46. Thefirst face portion 43 protrudes a predetermined distance from saidsecond face portion 44 in order that the face 45 is spaced from the facethereby forming a stepped jaw face. The first face portion 2-3 furtherincludes a shelf surface 4:7. In a similar manner the jaw 31 includes afirst face portion Eli and a secend face portion 51 having a first face52 and a second face 53 respectively. The first face portion 59similarly includes a shelf surface 54. The faces 45, 4'6 and 52, 53 areparallel with the faces 45 and 52 opposing and being cooperative withrespect to each other while the faces 46 and 53 are opposing andcooperative with respect to each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferably the first face portion 43 has a slot 55therein and the first face portion S ll is adapted to fit within theslot 55 in order that the portions 43 and 50 are interlocking tosecurely grasp small parts.

The support element 21 further includes a protective skirt 56 whichextends outwardly to protect the adjusting wheel 14 and associatedthreads against dirt and foreign matter getting into the relative movingparts.

Preferably, the axis 13 is located to provide nearly equal weightdistribution when it is supporting a waveguide. The entire test standit) and especially the jaws 3t? and 31 are composed of high impactplastic to prevent damage to the Waveguides and to withstand roughusage.

In operation, when it is desired to align one waveguide section withanother the adjusting wheel 14 is rotated until a waveguide section 60is at the proper height. If the narrow walls 61 of the waveguide 69 areto be disposed parallel to the axis 34 as shown in dotted lines in FIG.1, the waveguide 60 may be supported on the support element 21 and theknob 40 is rotated until the faces 45 and 52 firmly secure the waveguide6t Then if it is desirable to rotate the waveguide at in order that itsbroad walls 62 are parallel with the axis 34- as shown in the dash-dotlines of FIG. 1, the lower broad wall 62 may be supported on the shelfsurfaces 4'7 and 54 and the knob 46* rotated until the faces 46 and 53secure the waveguide 64 By means of the stepped jaw faces relativelylittle manipulation of the knob 49 is required to adjust the waveguide60 from one position to the other. It will be appreciated that thewaveguide 65) may be optionally secured by either the first faceportions 43 and 50 or the second face portions 44 and 51 with either thenarrow walls 61 or the broad walls 62 parallel to the axis 34 with thestepped jaw face providing an additional height adjustment.

The waveguide test stand of the present invention has several importantadvantages including the following:

(1) It can be rapidly and accurately adjusted vertically andhorizontally, with only one hand if necessary,

(2) It is easily adjustable and accessible from the front and sides foruse in cramped spaces,

(3) it is compact for use in limited spaces yet stable,

(4) The location of the axis 13 provides centralized loading,

(5) The movable rear jaws 31 provides that the supported waveguide willalways be near the front of the stand for easy access,

(6) The plastic jaws protect the delicate waveguides,

(7) The plastic construction throughout provides a practicallyunbreakable test stand,

(8) It provides positive clamping without damage to the clampedwaveguide,

(9) The protective skirt 56 prevents dirt and foreign matter fromgetting into the threads and relatively moving parts associated with thebase,

(10) The wide base provides stability and support, and

(11) The interlocking jaws securely clamp small parts without damage tothe parts.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, thewords which have been used are words of description rather than thelimitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claimsmay be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of theinvention in its broader aspects.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable support test stand for waveguides having broad andnarrow walls comprising,

(a) a stationary base member,

(b) a support element adjustably mounted on said base member forpositioning in a direction along a first axis,

(c) adjustable means for positioning said support ele-- ment in thedirection of said first axis,

(d) means mounted on said base member and cooperative with said supportelement for preventing rotation of said support element relative to saidbase member,

(e) first and second cooperative clamping jaws,

(f) said support element including said first clamping jaw integraltherewith,

(g) said second clamping jaw being adjustably mounted o said supportelement and arranged for positioning with respect to said first jawalong a second axis perpendicular to said first axis,

([1) each of said jaws having first and second face portions,

(i) said first and second face portions being cooperative respectivelywith respect to each other,

(i) each of said first face portions protrude a predetermined distancefrom said second face portions respectively in the direction of saidsecond axis and towards each other thereby forming cooperative steppedjaw faces,

(k) and means for adjusting said jaws relative to each other.

2. An adjustable support test stand for waveguides having broad andnarrow walls comprising,

(a) a stationary base member having a threaded stud projecting therefromcoaxial with respect to a first axis,

(b) a dual threaded adjusting wheel coaxial with said first axis havinginternal threads cooperative with the external threads of said stud andexternal threads,

(c) a support element having a threaded aperture coaxial with said firstaxis and cooperative with said external threads of said wheel wherebyrotating said wheel around said first axis rapidly adjusts said supportelement in the direction of said first axis,

(cl) means mounted on said base member and cooperative with said supportelement permitting movement of said support element relative to saidbase in the direction of said first axis while preventing relativerotation thereof around said first axis,

(6) adjustable clamping jaw means having a first jaw mounted integralwith said support element and a second jaw positionably mounted on saidsupport element along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis,

(f) each of said jaws having first and second face portions having firstand second faces parallel to and opposing each other and cooperativewith respect to each other,

(g) said first faces being disposed closer to each other along saidsecond axis than said second faces thereby forming cooperative steppedjaw faces,

(11) and means for adjusting the spaced relationship between said jawsin the direction of said second axis.

3. An adjustable support test stand as recited in claim 2 furtherincluding stop means associated with said base member for preventingmovement of said wheel in the direction of said first axis beyond apredetermined amount.

4. An adjustable support test stand as recited in claim 2 in which oneof said jaws has a slot formed therein and the other of said jaws has aprojection formed thereon that mates with said slot whereby said firstface portions are adapted to interlock.

5. An adjustable support test stand as recited in claim 2 in which saidsupport element includes a skirt portion extending therefrom to protectsaid threads from dirt contamination.

6. An adjustable support test stand for waveguides having broad andnarrow walls comprising,

(a) a base member having threaded stud projecting therefrom coaxial withrespect to a first axis,

(b) a dual threaded adjusting wheel coaxial with said first axis havinginternal threads cooperative with the external threads of said stud andexternal threads,

(0) a support element having a threaded aperture coaxial with said firstaxis and cooperative with said external threads of said wheel wherebyrotating said wheel around said first axis rapidly adjusts said supportelement in the direction of said first axis,

(:1) means mounted on said base member and cooperative with said supportelement permitting movement of said support element relative to saidbase in the direction of said first axis while preventing relativerotation thereof around said first axis,

((2) adjustable clamping jaw means having a first jaw mounted integralwith said support element and a second jaw adjustably mounted on saidsupport element for positioning along a second axis perpendicular tosaid first axis,

(1") each of said jaws having first and second face portions havingrespective first and second faces parallel to and respectively opposingeach other,

(g) said first faces being disposed closer to each other along saidsecond axis than said second faces thereby forming cooperative steppedjaw faces,

(11) each of said first face portions further including third surfacescooperative with said second faces,

(1') and means for adjusting the spaced relationship between said jawsin the direction of said second axis.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS499,291 Gury June 13, 1893 1,912,313 Schwab May 30, 1933 2,211,287Neubig et a1 Aug. 13, 1940

1. AN ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT TEST STAND FOR WAVEGUIDES HAVING BROAD ANDNARROW WALLS COMPRISING, (A) A STATIONARY BASE MEMBER, (B) A SUPPORTELEMENT ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER FOR POSITIONING IN ADIRECTION ALONG A FIRST AXIS, (C) ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAIDSUPPORT ELEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST AXIS, (D) MEANS MOUNTEDON SAID BASE MEMBER AND COOPERATIVE WITH SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT FORPREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BASEMEMBER, (E) FIRST AND SECOND COOPERATIVE CLAMPING JAWS, (F) SAID SUPPORTELEMENT INCLUDING SAID FIRST CLAMPING JAW INTEGRAL THEREWITH,